Reviews

Great experience with OGVO

I had one of my greatest experiences regarding getting to know a new culture as well as the work environment in Ghana with OGVO. It was great to see the differences but especially the similarities in dental treatments and procedures in the office. Frank and his team are extremely welcoming, always ready to help and very professional. I would recommend OGVO to everybody who’s interested in doing an internship or any kind of voluntary work in Ghana. Especially the weekend trips were a great experience to get to know the country and the people even more. I feel I could take home so much positive vibes that it really was hard to leave Ghana after 3 weeks.

Elias Gutermann

Nationality: German

Age: 19

Country: Ghana

Program: Dentistry Internship   

Date: August 2021 – 3 weeks

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Tree planting in Ghana!

I had wanted to do some environmental work but never seemed to manage it. After Covid, I decided to go for it! I liked the look of OGVO as they seemed well organised and the prices were realistic so I bit the bullet. I was so happy I did! The registration process is very easy and Frank provided a letter of invitation so that I could get a visa for Ghana. As promised, he picked me up at the airport and took me to my placement, which was actually quite a long way away. Once I got there, I was taken to my accommodation and introduced to the placement manager. The accommodation was basic but adequate. I was lucky to be in a small village so I quickly got to know people and the locals would greet me and wave to me. The placement itself was excellent. I know some environmental projects are perhaps not as worthwhile as you would hope but this one was really effective. The man in charge obviously knew what he was doing and told me about the importance of maintaining trees once planted and also of educating local people not to cut trees down for firewood. By the end of the project I did feel that I had made a difference. I had no problems at all on my placement but Frank messaged me several times to check that everything was OK. It was reassuring to know that help was at hand if I had needed it. If anyone is in doubt, I’d strongly recommend OGVO as a good value but well-organised venture. I had a great time and would love to do it again!

Glen Thompson

Nationality: British

Age: 50

Country: Ghana

Program: Environmental Conservation Projects   

Date: August 2021 – 4 weeks

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What a wonderful time!

I had the most fun time volunteering with OGVO! I did the volunteer Dental program at WillBen Dental Clinic, and couldn’t have been happier with my experience. All the staff were exceedingly friendly, and were always happy that I was there to learn. My host family was probably the best part of my experience. I stayed with Bella, and her three wonderful children. It was such a blessing to have such a great host family that always stayed up talking to me, and making sure I was having a great time every day. Frank, the coordinator, even made sure that I was in a host family that had another volunteer as well, which I would highly recommend. The orientation process was very informative, and Frank even accompanied me from my work site to home for a the first couple days, to make sure I got around safe. If you are looking for a very, very immersive experience in Africa, this is the program. I had an incredible experience in my time in Ghana, and I met people that I will never forget.

Andrew Kotz

Nationality: American

Age: 19

Country: Ghana

Program: Dentistry Internship   

Date: June 2021 – 4 weeks

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Wonderful experience

Our placement at Willben Dental was a wonderful experience. Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming. I really liked how we were able to speak to and learn from the different dentists that came in each day. Despite being in a private practice we were also able to learn a lot about the government hospital facilities from the dentists that came in as well. We were able to observe a variety of procedures including cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, and even crown and denture production from start to finish. It was truly such a valuable experience.

Annie Lin & Trisha Dinh

Nationality: Americans

Age: 20 & 19

Country: Ghana

Program: Dentistry Internship

Date: May 2021 – 2 weeks

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This was more than just a placement year for me. Amazing and Splendid experiences

This placement was one of the best decisions I have made so far. I was introduced to the Administrator of the Hospital, the Deputy Head of the Biomedical Scientists Department, the Laboratory manager, other Biomedical Scientists and the trainee staff in the department. They took me through the departments in the hospital as an induction. I was given brief overview of the various tests and procedures that are undertaken in their lab and assured that by the end of the placement I will be able to undertake these tests and procedures by myself. The placement organisation took me and other student from other parts of Europe on mini adventure and history visits in our first few weekends such as the Manhyia palace in Kumasi, Lake Bosomtwe in the outskirt of Kumasi, Kakum National Park and The Cape Coast Castle. These trips were amazing and helped us learn more about the culture and history of Ghana. I have learned so much more about Ghana, myself and working in a Hospital over the 9 months I stayed in Ghana and I would gladly do it all over again. I would like to personally thank Mr Frank and his family and all the staff I encountered whilst having my placement at Tafo Government Hospital in Kumasi. Everyone made it a pleasant experience for me and would 100% recommend this opportunity to other student all over the world when they are looking for somewhere in Africa to have an experience.

Kelvin BaffourAnkrah

Nationality: British

Age: 21

Country: Ghana

Program: Biomedical Sciences Placement   

Date: June 2020 – 9 months

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Dear OGVO Ghana,

Thank you so much for allowing me the chance to intern at the Nwabiagya Municipal Assembly this winter. During my “year of the return”, I was able to shadow innovative leaders and educators within the Urban Planning field.

Overall the Ghanaian community, from the staff at OGVO, and the Physical Planning Department at Nwabiagya Municipal Assembly to the residents of the neighboring communities have welcomed me with an abundance of love and sense of community. Every part of the internship process from my initial communication with Mr. Frank Odoi at the organization to the placement was smooth. I would definitely recommend others to intern with OGVO.

Nana A. Acheampong

Nationality: American

Age: 24

Country: Ghana

Program: Urban Planning  

Date: January 2020 – 2 weeks

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An experience to be remembered.

Learning about farming techniques, administrating the student exam and immersing in cultural activities gave us a new perspective about humanitarian work. Seth, our supervisor, is extremely passionate about bringing a change in Senya Beraku that resonates with the sustainable development goals set up by United Nations. This cumulative experience nurtured us to be patient, more resilient and strong. Seeing that we were given a secure place within the farm brought us a step closer to the surreal experience we had. Interacting with children kept us motivated throughout because we wanted to sustain the smiles on their faces with our little efforts. I hope other people volunteer with this organization for the betterment of people.

Mohamed Eltayeb (group leader)

Nationality: American

Age: 21

Country: Ghana

Program: Agriculture & Farming Assistant  

Date: December 2019 – 2 weeks

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For the last two months I had the most exciting, impressing and also challenging time in Ghana that I will never forget. I really became part of the Ghanaian life.

After the arrival I went straight to the far north for my internship in Wa in the Upper West Region. My host family welcomed me so warmly and I became part of the family and their life immediately. They took such good care of me, showed me around and also arranged weekend trips. And the food was fantastic.

My internship in the St. Don Bosco Special School was interesting and very beneficial, but also tough from time to time, because the school is facing many challenges. The staff included me very quickly and gave good advice all the time. But the most amazing part was to see the children’s interest and happiness in learning new things. I am very thankful for all the great people I met, the places I visited and experiences that became part of me!

And the OGVO made it possible. Frank was so caring and helpful right from the beginning. I got all the support, assistance and information I needed since my application and preparations at home to the welcoming at the airport and all over my time in Ghana. It made me feel safe all the time to have somebody to rely on. Thank you!

Luise Symolka

Nationality: German

Age: 22

Country: Ghana

Program: Mental Health & Psychology Internship with Children  

Date: December 2019 – 8 weeks

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My stay here in Kumasi has been beyond my expectations. I have met some wonderfully generous and welcoming people, learned a lot about how the mental health care works and most importantly; eaten some of the best food around (thank you Evelyn and Auntie Rose!)

A special thank you to Frank who was kind enough to pick me up in Accra and introduce me to the everyday life in Kumasi. Frank has also assisted me during my stay with fast replies to my questions so I always felt safe and look after.

Staying with Evelyn, Ike, Nana Yaa and Kofi has been a delight. It has been a privilege to take part in their life for a while. They have really gone the extra mile for me to feel welcome and getting everything I need, and for that I’m truly grateful.

My work at Tafo Government Hospital has been fine. I have learned a lot about how the system works and seen how a psychologist works here in Ghana. I do think / recommend that one option could be to arrange for interns to go to Komfo Anokye. After spending a week at that hospital, I would say that they are a bit more organized and have a lot more patients which make the experience more worthwhile than at Tafo.

All in all I’m grateful for the experience and all the people that have made my stay here so interesting, so full of kindness and generosity, and unforgettable.

Elin Larsson

Nationality: Swedish

Age: 37

Country: Ghana

Program: Mental Health & Psychology Intern  

Date: December 2019 – 14 weeks

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Dentistry Internship at Tafo Government Hospital

It was a great experience here in Kumasi and we were literally part of the life in Ghana. Our host family was very courteous and I was comfortable staying with them. Because we were curious about cooking African food, they often showed us how to prepare the different dishes. We also played a lot with the children of the host family, especially the UNO – cards which we brought from Switzerland.

Before we came and also during our stay I really appreciated that Frank always replied within max an hour. He helps wherever he can.

I would have wished that someone could have showed us the whole city, because it is very difficult to go around on your own. It would be great to get a map of Kumasi with the different areas, so that you could take TroTros to go around. The people here are very friendly and helpful and they always show you which TroTro you have to take.

Our internship at the hospital was also interesting even though they don’t have many patients at the dental unit. The only things they can do there are consultations and extractions, because the equipment is very bad. Fortunately the dentist’s knowledge was at a very high level and we could learn a lot during the two weeks. We even had to do presentations on different topics almost every day. Furthermore we could go to the private clinic of the dentist several times which was definitely different to the hospital regarding the equipment and also regarding the treatments. There was also a dental technician at the private clinic.

Summing up I had a wonderful time here in Ghana and I won’t forget the experiences here.

Sarina Wuffli

Nationality: Swiss

Age: 26

Country: Ghana

Program: Dentistry Internship  

Date: August 2019 – 2 weeks

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UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURE IN GHANA

My stay began on the 14^th of July and ended on the 29^th of the same month. Volunteering is something I wanted to do for a long time and I am more than thrilled to have gotten the chance to do it with OGVO.

The family who took care of me was lovely and thoughtful: I felt comfortable right away. The environment in which I lived for those two weeks was idyllic. Surrounded by endless vegetation, I could hear all day long the birds singing melodiously. What a delight! But this place becomes even more magical when the kids are here. Their laugh, their energy is without a doubt what touched me the most. At the outset they introduced me to their games, their culture and made sure I felt good, although I was the one supposed to take care of them. I found in those children friends, a family. They have a joy of life that filled me with happiness but also seized me with emotion. It made me want to help them even more.

I took part to the teaching-program, that is why, during this stay, I taught them mostly French and a little bit of Mathematics. I also got the occasion to help the teachers with other subjects such as English, by assisting them with reading and spelling lessons.

The children did not know anything about the French language, so my challenge was to teach them the bases… in two weeks. It was a hard work and I feel like a couple of weeks in addition to this time could have been helpful, but I did my best and I hope I gave them the desire to keep learning it. As I said, it was not an easy job, especially with no experience in the field of education. But it was really fun because I got to see and to learn teaching-methods completely different from the ones I knew. Moreover, I think the best part of this is the feeling of satisfaction, pride and joy I had whenever they remembered something and assimilated it. The children were not my only students. The team of teachers always listened to my classes with a great attention and I even gave them private lessons! They also made sure that the children stayed focused on what I was saying and that they understood. They were a precious help and guide in this experience.

However I think it is relevant to note that there are some major issues such as the lack of teachers: there are four classes and only three fulltime teachers; the school equipment is still precarious: there are sometimes three children sat to a desk planned for two, their books are torn, their school uniforms are holed… So there is a real need of volunteers and new furniture.

However, I was not restricted to teaching. I helped farming in the fields: it is a demanding job but it allowed me to learn a lot about plants and agriculture, and I gave a hand to Seth, my coordinator, to dig the ground in order to build a school for the children, which is also an exhausting job, but still fun and satisfying. The tasks you accomplish really depend on the volunteer’s wishes.

My stay was not only punctuated by work, though. I have had the chance to visit some of the important places in Ghana like the Kakum Forest, Cape Coast and its Castle and, of course, the capital of the country: Accra. I also discovered the Ghanaian villages… There was no time to get bored!

This was I think the best way to involve yourself and at the same time to discover the Ghanaian culture, as well in terms of food (Naomi, great cook, initiated me to the typical dishes like “fufu”, the “green-green soup”, “Banku”…) than in terms of music, language, traditions, habits…

It is great to see the project growing and to be part of its growth. Although they are facing many challenges and lead a hard life, a lot of ambition, hope and dreams prevail in the Miracle Educational Complex in Senya Beraku.

I am extremely thankful to the team that allowed me to have so much fun and made this unique adventure unforgettable.

Anais Legrand

Nationality: French

Age: 16

Country: Ghana

Program: High School Specials (Care & Community Service)  

Date: July 2019 – 2 weeks

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Rewarding experience

This trip was an unforgettable experience and the place was really nice and exotic.

The host family was amazing and really funny, they were always smiling and joking. They were very welcoming and helpful, as were the people of the nearby village. I went several times with Seth in the neighboring city to enjoy the atmosphere of the city. In general the population was happy to see me.

Most of the time, I was working on the project. It was very interesting, humanly and socially. My project was to build a library in Senya Beraku, in Ghana, next to a school. This project should allow the children of the school to have access to books and a knowledge base necessary for personal development and their education. This project also has a sportive side because we do manual construction. Sometimes, we did not have enough money to continue working, so I became a math teacher. The children was really happy to see me and it was a pleasure to teach them. They were really helpful and they gladly help us with the construction when we needed them, for exemple to transport the bricks.

To conclude, I will say that it was an exceptional experience, enriching, and exotic. It was also an educational experience that allowed me to discover a completely new culture and a simpler way of life. This trip allowed me to see the poverty and the difficulties of access to education in this poor region of Africa and in the country in general.

Gregoire Launois

Nationality: French

Age: 16

Country: Ghana

Program: Construction & Renovation  

Date: July 2019 – 3 weeks

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ADVENTURE

My overall experience is/was unique; the OGVO enabled me to become part of a local family which provided me with comfort and the feeling of being home even though there is over a thousand miles distance between my home in Europe and Ghana. My host family and especially the children warmly welcomed me; I quickly became attached to the family. I was provided with all the necessary guidance and help by Frank right at the beginning of my stay. The assistance I received from Frank throughout my stay was very satisfactory.

Frank was always available if needed and even managed (with only one and half days prior notice) to organize and accompany me on an amazing trip to Cape Coast and Kakum National Park; everything was taken care of by him.

The highlight of my volunteering experience was indeed my internship at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Commission is a highly professional constitutional institution advocating for the adherence to human rightsand remedying violations of human rights. The staff at the Commission was very welcoming and helpful. During the internship I gained crucial insights on human rights issues and was educated / trained on how to apply national law to the particulars of different cases. The internship was very educative and I do have the feeling I acquired knowledge which will prove beneficial on my future career path.

What I like / appreciate most about the OGVO is that the internships take place in professional / challenging working environments, also that the volunteering period equals a unique cultural experience. The OGVO provides all this and more eg. charging very affordable rates.

Daniel Taylor

Nationality: German& British

Age: 20

Country: Ghana

Program: Human Rights Law  

Date: July 2019 – 3 weeks

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An adventure full of wonderful people and monkeys!

Being only 17 I had little experience of travel alone, so I had no idea what to expect from a solo volunteering trip to Ghana. Armed with hiking boots and numerous bottles of mosquito repellent, I boarded my flight from London to Accra, nervous but excited for what’s to come. There, I was greeted by Frank, the man who had organised the entire trip and was dedicated to ensuring I was safe and happy for every moment of it. After quite a long overnight bus journey I arrived at the joint villages of Boabeng and Fiema which are home to the monkey sanctuary at which I volunteered. It was quite a bit more remote than I initially expected, however that was what made it so enjoyable! I was given a completely new insight into life so different from that at home. This included activities such as collecting water for the barrel at 6:00 in the morning, showering and washing my clothes with a bucket and walking around the village every evening to (try with little grasp of the local dialect) to greet the local people. At first I felt less pushed but more violently catapulted out of my comfort zone and thought it would be impossible to adjust. However, my worries were rapidly put to rest by the wonderful people situated in the villages. My host father Alfred, took every care in making sure I felt completely settled in during my stay and acted as a semi-translator to the other members of the village where my Twee (the local language) was unable to get me past the usual formalities. Despite the local food such as ‘fufu’ and ‘banku’ being for me perhaps more of a ‘try it once’ experience, Alfred made excellent meals, utilising rice in a variety of combinations previously unimaginable to me. And then of course to the main event: the volunteering. My duties at the sanctuary included giving tours to visitors (who seemed a tad surprised but impressed that a British man was showing them around rather than a local), helping with any jobs of the workers at the sanctuary, talking to and helping guests at the guesthouse and, of course, taking many, many photos for the visitors. And rightly so! Out of the two species of monkey who lived in the sanctuary, Colobus and Mona, the latter was amazingly habituated to humans, happy to climb all over any willing tourist (usually with food) in a very gentle manner! The monkeys are regarded as sacred, so treated with the highest respect amongst the locals. I was also able to participate in the help of a new project being set up by the manager of the sanctuary to form a new school in the area, funded by parents of the students outside government education. Outside of this I was also able to conduct some (brief) research on how monkey behaviours have changed in response to different parts of the forest. Besides work I was also able to take a couple to trips to the local town of N’koranza and the beautiful nearby Kentampo falls. It was at the end of the two weeks that I realised that I had barely gotten started with Ghana, and upon my departure I wondered when I could return to make an even greater impact of the essential ecosystems of the beautiful country. It was the little things that made my day to day life so excellent, from the woman who greeted me and taught me a different Twee phrase every morning as I passed her on the way to work to the school kids that would chase me down forest paths shouting ‘Obruni!’ (White person) on my way home, and give me a hug around the legs. I thoroughly recommend this experience to anyone interested in conserving the natural world and getting a taste of a vastly different culture. It may require some adjustment for inexperienced travels (although it is still very accessible) but the memories you make from it are invaluable!

Toby Thompson

Nationality: British

Age: 17

Country: Ghana

Program: Volunteer Wildlife (Boabeng-Fiema)  

Date: July 2019 – 2 weeks

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Worthwhile

Right from the application process, OGVO was helpful and accessible. The coordinator responded to my mails quickly and was willing to render assistance.

My host family was amazing and hospitable. My host mother and her kids ensured I was confortable and made me feel at home. The food was great, sadly I was a little unwilling to try out some local delicacies so I guess I missed out on the food part.

The staffs at hospital I worked with were nice, well, most of them. They willingly offered professional assistance when necessary. For the first few days, I found working at the hospital challenging, largely due to the language barrier, having to wake up very early in order to get to work on time and on my way back from work, getting a bus that will take me to my last bus stop. Eventually, I got used to the latter and for the former, sadly 4 weeks wasn’t enough time to grasp the language.

From the professional point of view, I had a remarkable experience even though some days; there wouldn’t be much work to do at the hospital. Some other days, the workload will be almost overwhelming. My supervisor and preceptor there were great and competently offered professional assistance without reserve.

Over all, my stay in Kumasi was worthwhile, amazing host family, great programme coordinator who was efficient at tackling the few challenges I encountered and of course furnished me with necessary information.

Nwachukwu Ibeawuchi McDonald

Nationality: Nigerian

Age: 28

Country: Ghana

Program: Clinical Pharmacy Internship

Date: June 2019 – 4 weeks

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Ghana YE FE

Ghana YE FE – Ghana is beautiful, although it doesn’t show its beauty at first sight.

The tropical heat, loud music, insane traffic, power breakdowns, no access to WiFi and the local language, which I didn’t understand, made it difficult for me to adjust to my new life in Ghana. Within the first weeks, I easily got irritated by the question why all whites hate blacks and why all Germans are racists. I got annoyed by random people / strangers walking up to me and requesting me to give them my phone / money / etc.

But as time went on I got used to the cultural differences and the way people approached me as being “Broni” in Ghana. I fell in love with the food, the weather and especially the people. I can’t be more thankful for my Ghanaian host family and Ghanaian friends who made my stay so special and unforgettable. Although Ghana has wonderful places to visit, it’s the people that make it worthwhile.

I’m glad I chose to stay here for nearly 4 months so that I was able to discover the hidden beauty of this country and to develop good friendships.          During my internship at a psychiatric unit in Kumasi I came face to face with a lot of mental conditions and how they are treated and managed in a foreign country. I really appreciated the time, effort and patience my colleagues put into explaining to me how things are run at the hospital and the unit.      Choosing to come to Ghana with OGVO was the right decision as Frank always was available providing help and information to make the stay as easy and comfortable as possible.

Considering the recent kidnapping that took place whilst I was here in Ghana I want to stress that Ghana really is a safe and peaceful country. Just stick to the normal safety rules and make sure that you are not going out alone in the dark if you’re not familiar with the place – just as you would do in any other country. Apart from that Ghanaian people really care about each other and are friendly to help you out when they realize that you are a foreigner.

All in all, my stay in Ghana was fun, educative, sometimes tough, but something I’ll always remember and cherish.

 

Philina Charlotte Bartkowiak

Nationality: German

Age: 26

Country: Ghana

Program: Mental Health & Psychology Internship  

Date: June 2019 – 14 weeks

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My trip to Ghana was been beyond what I ever could have imagined, words cannot describe how exceptional my experience was. My host family took me in as one of their own and made me feel like truly part of their wonder family. They taught me about their culture, values and how they differ from what I was used to. I got to view many different fields of medicine which was my main goal of coming here; from a lab tech, collecting patient samples, sonography, building a hospital to an outreach program in a less fortunate community, I got to see it all! Not only did I get to see different fields of medicine, I was privileged enough to go to a secondary school and help teach and economics class. At first I was very hesitant about traveling by myself to somewhere I’ve never been before. I can honestly say I’ve never felt more welcome or excepted anywhere in the world. Everyone here is hospitable, thankful and always happy; I already can’t wait to come back one day.

Emma Regier

Nationality: Canadian

Age: 17

Country: Ghana

Program: Medical & Healthcare Internship  

Date: June 2019 – 1 week

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 Veterinary Medicine Internship in Kumasi

I would highly recommend this experience to anyone considering a career in the field of veterinary medicine.

From day 1 the practical hands-on experience was something I could not get in my home country. The vets were very eager for me to learn as much as I could and allowed me to perform a large variety of procedures.

The homestay was an absolute highlight. The families were so welcoming (as everyone is in Ghana!) and showed me what daily life is like for them. Nothing beats the laughter and hugs for from the children after coming home every day. We would spend each night playing with the kids and witnessing the ‘open door’ style of living, with people always coming and going from the home, always bringing joy.

Frank and the organization were very helpful in getting me settled and adjusted to my new life (particularly the chaotic transport system!). I never felt unsafe or alone, and Frank was only a phone call away if things ever went wrong.

I recommend anyone to take the leap of faith, completely immerse yourself in a new culture and come to appreciate the infections happiness and warmth Ghanaians are renowned for. You will not regret it!

Tom Stevenson

Nationality: Australian

Age: 21

Country: Ghana

Program: Veterinary Medicine Internship  

Date: May 2019 – 2 weeks

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I volunteered for four weeks as a Pharmacy intern at Tafo government hospital. Right from the application process, the Coordinator Mr Frank Odoi was helpful and all through my stay in Kumasi, thanks to Frank, I had all the necessary information I needed at any given time and ensured all my needs were met.

My host family is the best ever. Already an OGVO volunteer from France was living with them before I arrived so it was a case of the more, the merrier. Madam Bella and the kids practically treated me like a member of their family. I enjoyed her wonderful Ghanaian meals especially the Jollof rice and Wache unfortunately I never got to like the nut soup (I hope I got the name right) even though that seemed to be everyone’s favourite. The kids taught me a few phrases in Twi the local language and I was always happy to answer their questions about Nigeria and the Nigerian movies.

Every day at Tafo hospital where I worked was worthwhile. My preceptors Pharm. Michael and Pharm. Dr Lesley were quite helpful and understanding. They tried their best to ensure my expectations were met. I had few challenges though, because of the language barrier I couldn’t offer much Pharmaceutical care to the patients who don’t understand English. On one of the weekends, I went for hiking at the Wala rain forest with a fellow OGVO Volunteer, it was quite a fun day.

Overall, I had an awesome experience in Kumasi. My only regret is I didn’t stay a bit longer.

Ibeawuchi Nwachukwu

Nationality: Nigerian

Age: 29

Country: Ghana

Program: Pharmacy Internship  

Date: May 2019 – 4 weeks

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Medical Internship in Ghana with OGVO

I really enjoyed my stay in Ghana with OGVO. Everything was very organized. They put me into a very nice host family and I felt very taken care of. They provided me with meals three times a day, which was all delicious.

The people there were all very welcoming. I had the chance to learn a lot about their culture and how they work.

I recommend this to anyone who likes an adventure!

Chiraz Mrabet

Nationality: German

Age: 17

Country: Ghana

Program: Medical & Healthcare  

Date: May 2019 – 2 weeks

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Great Experience

I only stayed two weeks in Ghana and that was such a great experience.

Be prepared to a cultural choc because it’s so different compare to our countries. From the food to the way they live or work, nothing is the same!

About OGVO, I would say that it has been a pleasure to come here with them. They are very present for you before and during your stay. You can ask for anything and at any moment and you’ll have a quick answer. The fact that they come to pick you up from the airport and show you your area, work and everything you need to know really make you feel safer in a country you don’t know anything about.

Being in a host family is also really great because you can see how they live, what they eat, etc. You can really learn a lot about Ghanaian culture and meet many people. My host family was really lovely and I loved staying with them!

Ghanaian people are also very kind, always helpful.

The only thing I didn’t like so much is the fact that when you walk in the street, everybody is staring at you like you’re not normal and that really made me feel uncomfortable. Also, because you are white they suppose you have money so they just make remarks not always kind or just ask you for money or make you pay more. And I think that’s not really great from them because we are here to help and work for free and they just want to take more. And as a student, even if I am white, I don’t have much money as they think. Except for that, I really liked coming to Ghana and I would recommend you to go with OGVO.

Thanks for everything.

Finja Delbecque

Nationality: Belgian

Age: 22

Country: Ghana

Program: Wildlife  

Date: April 2019 – 2 weeks

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Memorable Life and Experience

I had expected two aspects of this program before I joined it. One aspect was that I can experience the local African life, and the other was that I can learn about African fashion. In the home, I enjoyed eating the delicious local food Naomi made us, looking up to the sky completely filled with stars while taking shower every day. On the weekends, Seth took us to beautiful sightseeing spots. I experienced local Ghana life more than I had expected before and enjoyed so much thanks to Seth, Naomi, Deborah and my roommate Lara. Also, in the shop I worked for two weeks, I spent fruitful time there. Even though I couldn’t speak local language and I was a beginner at dressmaking, they welcomed me warmly and taught me everything very kindly. I appreciate to all staffs in the shop. Everything I experienced here is one of my memorable memories, I hope more people join OGVO program and spend wonderful time.

 

Yumena Miura

Nationality: Japanese

Age: 23

Country: Ghana

Program: Fashion & Design  

Date: February 2019 – 2 weeks

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Unforgettable time

I spend almost ten weeks in Senya Beraku and it was an amazing time. My project was a construction project where I helped to build an orphanage. The work was really good. The workmen’s I worked with showed and explained me there work. I was able to try out a lot of things and be part of every step of the working process. The children from the school next to the orphanage always wanted to help me and showed me a lot of their games that they were playing. I could also try to teach in the school and the children taught me how to match. I was even able to match with them on the national Independence Day, which was really impressive. They all gave me the feeling to be a part of them. To live in the village like Senya was a great experience. I could see the life there and how different everything is. All the people were nice to me and I always felt save. It is also a great experience to live in a host family, because one can experience a part of the real life in Ghana instead of a vacation trip.   Especially if the host family is as nice as mine was. I felt extremely welcome and they showed me how everything works there. I had my own room which I only chaired with one other volunteer for a few weeks. During my stay there I even learned to cook some real Food from Ghana, like Banku or Fufu. I got three really delicious meals per day. Whenever I needed something they one of them came with me to the village or even to Kasoa, the next bigger city. In the evenings, when I was not tired from working, I played games with them or went to the castle to drink some beer. In my free time we did a nice trip to Cape Coast, Kakum National park and Accra. I also learned something about the histories of Ghana. I had a lot of fun with them and I look forward to come back one day and see them again.

Lara Dallwitz

Nationality: German

Age: 20

Country: Ghana

Program: Construction & Renovation  

Date: February 2019 – 10 weeks

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My workmates at forestry are nothing more than my brothers and sisters. Overtime we’ve grown to learn and understand each other. They have thought me about the culture, the food, the people and about Ghana itself.

I will forever be grateful for meeting them. They even made a sendoff party even provided a Kente(?) which was more than I expected. Overall the experience for me in Ghana was great and I will be back to visit in the near future with my family to meet my Kumasi family.

Kratonga Rose Ohuma

Nationality: Australian

Age: 23

Country: Ghana

Program: Environmental & Conservation  

Date: October 2018 – 9 weeks

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Mole Park Tourism Experience

I had a great time here in Damango and at the Mole Park. Since the first day, where I met Martinu at the Accra airport, he’s helped me with everything I needed. Visiting Mole National Park has been an experience that I will never forget. From seeing elephants for the first time in my life, to witnessing the local community just eating and living s close to all the animals, such as warthogs and baboons.  I recommend this experience to anybody who has been thinking of visiting Ghana with OGVO. It will give you an understanding not only of how important the park is to this community, but you will also see various local villages and witness a whole new side of the world.

Matteo Saltini

Nationality: American

Age: 20

Country: Ghana

Program: Wildlife  

Date: December 2018 – 2 weeks

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My unforgettable experience in Ghana

It wasn’t long before I knew I was going to live an uncomfortable life in Ghana. All the things I thought were normal when I was in Japan weren’t here. But that’s what makes Ghana an interesting and unique place to come. During my stay I realized how I always relied on products and other people.

I volunteered for Microfinance Company in the village I stayed. The boss and the manager explained me every details of how it works, and the work I was to do carefully, and kindly. They always made sure I’m on the same page as them, which really helped me. I learned a lot from it, not only about microfinance, but also how most of the work goes.

The host family and work associates kept me companied all the time, so I could stay safe. Even for small shopping and comings and goings of work, they would come with me. They prepared well-cooked food, clean water, and assisted me with every problem I had. Just everything made me feel safe.

Hiromi Kakeya

Nationality: Japanese

Age: 17

Country: Ghana

Program: High School Specials (Microfinance)  

Date: August 2018 – 2 weeks

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Unforgettable Experience

This has been one of the most beautiful things I have ever done in my life. I am not going to lie, before coming here I was a little bit scared, but when the days passed by, I felt extremely comfortable. Seth, Naomi and Deborah have been such a good host family, they made me feel like at home, it was incredible. Another thing that was extremely emotional was being able to raise and see the early phases of the bathroom for the kids at the school that was truly amazing. And speaking of the kids, they were as I call them ”Friendly annoying” I say this one hundred percent in the right way, they were always smiling and always wanted attention, I think they quickly accepted me in their group. Now I am a celebrity (Superstar) in the village, every kid knows my name which is amazing. Nothing else to say, it has been an experience that I will never forget, thank you very much Seth, Naomi, Deborah, The kids at the Heshbon’s Kids Academy school and OGVO for everything, hope to come back soon with all the family from Spain.

Homero Aybar Freixa

Nationality: Spanish

Age: 16

Country: Ghana

Program: High School Specials (Care & Community)

Date: August 2018 – 2 weeks

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An Adventurous Trip to Ghana

I went as an English Class Teaching volunteer to Ghana. When I arrived at the airport, I was really nervous. I have never travelled to the African continent before. But everything went well and it was easy to find Frank who picked me up at the airport.

Unfortunately, we needed about 7 hours to get from Accra to Kumasi. Therefore we arrived really late in the evening and I couldn’t meet my host family.

On Tuesday was my introduction day. It was the first time that I met my host family, the teachers and the kids at school.

Nevertheless, my first few days were very difficult. I had a culture shock and I understood almost nobody but after I got over it, the fun began.

My host family was really lovely and I enjoyed spending time with them. Their friends were also really friendly and everybody welcomed me.

I was working at “Maria Estee Learning Center”. The teachers are really lovely and friendly there and I met a lot of people I will never forget.

If you want to become an English class teaching volunteer, I recommend you to go to this school. Everybody always tried to help me and I’m glad that I could make my experiences at that school.

But if you want to go to a school as a volunteer, you have to know that it’s normal to beat students / kids in Ghana. Watching kids who were slapped was really hard for me. However it belongs to the Ghanaian culture and even though you don’t like it you have to accept it.

On the weekends I did some trips which brought me around Ghana. I went to “Mole National Park” and I visited Cape Coast.

Personally, I preferred the trip to Cape Coast because the way from Kumasi to Cape Coast wasn’t as long as to “Mole National Park”. If you want visit different places in Ghana, you should know that the streets and public means of transport aren’t really good. Therefore we needed about 11 hours from Kumasi to “Mole National Park”. Nevertheless, it is worth to go there and see the elephants in their natural environment. I really enjoyed my trip to Ghana and I think even European countries can still learn a lot from Ghanaian hospitality.

Katharina Schaller

Nationality: German

Age: 17

Country: Ghana

Program: English Teaching Volunteer  

Date: July 2018 – 4 weeks

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Amazing

Hostfamily:

+ Friendly and open-minded host father and host mother

+ Kindly living atmosphere

+ Reliable

+ Organization and escort of interesting, diversified and great free time activity

+ Very delicious food, always way more than one person can eat 😉

+ Explaining cultural and country-specific characteristics

+ Respecting need of private time

+ Nice accommodation

Construction and Renovation work:

+ Meaningful and deep vision of project, worth to be supported

+ Involvement in every kind of work, full acceptance as a working partner

+ Nice working partners (besides host father)

+ Type of work as expected

+ Host father showed ability to discuss problems

– Working organization: Sometimes lack of work due to insufficient fund amount.

+/- Host father explained very detailed problems facing regarding project work, (especially shortage of funds), stressing the possibilities of spreading the seeds in aid of Heshbon’s School Building Project

Others:

Transportation:

+ Punctual pick up, warm welcoming

Security:

+ Always someone there to guide me to an unknown place.

+ Helpful instructions of how to deal with people in close environment, general advices regarding do’s and don’ts in Ghana

Kirsten Plander

Nationality: German

Age: 29

Country: Ghana

Program: Construction & Renovation

Date: July 2018 – 2 weeks

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A fantastic opportunity for a volunteer at OGVO

The pick up at the airport went smooth overall, Seth a local coordinator of OGVO/ host father was easily found because of his OGVO sign. It was late in the evening but Seth was really friendly and comforting. After a taxi ride for an hour we arrived in our room. Our room was really clean and nice; it had a ceiling fan, four beds and a light.

The day after we landed Seth gave us an introduction to the project and the Ghanaian culture, which was nice and clear. He gave us some papers, including: the general rules, text about the project and an overview about how we can support. From Monday to Thursday we helped with the building and met the kids. The kids were very friendly and playful. Friday we went to the beach with Naomi, our host mother. Saturday we went to Kasoa and Sunday we did our laundry with Naomi.

The week after we helped building from Monday until Friday. Saturday we went to Kakum National Park, which was very nice and fun. Sunday we went to experience the Ghanaian church, which is very different from the Belgian church.

Last but not least the food: we got three meals a day, which were all very nicely made and delicious, thanks to Naomi!

Overall one of the greatest opportunities a volunteer could wish for!

Ruben Van Ballaert

Nationality: Belgian

Age: 24

Country: Ghana

Program: Construction & Renovation

Date: June 2018 – 3 weeks

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My wonderful experience at OGVO

I went as a constructing volunteer to Ghana with my boyfriend with OGVO. When we arrived at the airport, I was very nervous. It was my first time in Africa.
I was really glad when we saw Seth, a local coordinator of OGVO and our host father, with the OGVO plate. We drove an hour in a taxi before we got to our room. Our room was very nice!

Sunday was our orientation day, here we learned all about the culture and the do’s and don’ts. We also met Naomi; she is part of the host family. She prepares the best food for us, cares for the orphans and is a teacher.
After this we went to the Heshbon’s kids Academy. This is where we spent 3 weeks trying our best to help build a better school for the needy kids in Senya Beraku and nearby villages.

The first week we needed to help with the bricklaying. This mainly means carrying bricks and mixing mortar. The second week I mostly painted in the classrooms and played with the kids. The last week of our stay, we mainly made a block out of concrete for the water tank, so they can fill it properly.

I really liked working with Seth, a local coordinator of OGVO, a workman, the kids and the teachers. It was an honour!

In the weekend we did a lot of fantastic things: like going to the beach and church (where I wore a typical African dress) with Naomi and to a nearby city with Seth. They are the best!

It was a memorable three weeks of my life! A real journey and an experience I’m glad to take home! We will try our best to fund this project so much more once we are back in Belgium!

Nicky Szewczykowski

Nationality: Belgian

Age: 21

Country: Ghana

Program: Construction & Renovation

Date: June 2018 – 3 weeks

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Fufu, Tro-tro & Co.

Thanks to OGVO and especially Frank, I had a wonderful and enriching time in Ghana. I’ve started my work at the Mole National Park in the north of Ghana and continued afterwards at the Monkey sanctuary in Boabeng-Fiema, in the end I finished my work at the Zoo in Kumasi. I’ve worked at each of those places for one month and even though it was somehow hard for me to leave each project side, my host-family and the new friends after only one month I’m glad that I spend my time in Ghana like this. Due to this Project changes and the traveling I made even more experiences and learned about the differences and similarities between the different regions in Ghana. For example the Language, the food or the Level of Development have changed during my time of traveling, but one thing always remained the same: the very helpful and hospital Ghanaian people. I’m going to miss my host-families very much but I’m sure that I will come back as soon as possible. Ghana is really a beautiful country and even though Ghana has also problems like corruption or Social inequalities I think that European Country can still learn a lot from the Ghanaian Hospitality and the Way strangers are being treated here. Thanks again Frank for the Great time!

Finn Haberkost

Nationality: German

Age: 18

Country: Ghana

Program: Wildlife Volunteer Program

Date: January 2018 – 12 weeks, 5 days

 

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Wonderful Experience

If you’re planning to go to Ghana and want to volunteer I will sincerely recommend going with OGVO! I stayed for two weeks in Ghana. I worked at the Hope Christian Hospital in Gomoa-Fetteh, Central Region of Ghana. I was welcomed by the whole staff. They were all caring for me and wanted me to show as much as possible. As a psychologist, I got an insight in the way Ghanaian people look at emotional problems and mental disorders. I believe this place is excellent to come to if you want to become a trained nurse, midwife or doctor with a special interest in tropical diseases and fertility issues. You will focus on your observation skills even though modern equipment is available. You can also find out more about the traditional believes about medicine and the state-of-the-art of modern medicine. Seth Barnes, OGVO local coordinator, picked me up at the airport. If you enter an unknown country, it’s always nice to have a smile awaiting for you. Special thanks go out to Naomi, who was a mother as well as a sister to me. Thank you for taking such good care of me, not only, but especially when I was sick. I liked my Ghanaian experience and, I would highly recommend the volunteer experience and OGVO to others.

Bieke De Wilde

Nationality: Belgian

Age: 39

Country: Ghana

Program: Mental Health & Psychology Experience

Date: September 2017 – 2 weeks

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Dentistry student internship

OGVO quickly stood out as a safe and trustworthy organisation. All my emails in advance of both booking and going to Ghana were answered quickly – usually within few hours. In Ghana everything went smoothly. OGVO met me and my travel partner at the airport and followed us to our lovely host family. OGVO had organized for me to work at a great dental clinic in Kumasi. I thank OGVO for a great experience in Ghana.

Liva Lone

Nationality: Norwegian

Age: 26

Country: Ghana

Program: Dental Elective Internship

Date: August 2017 – 3 weeks

 

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Dental internship in Kumasi

My friend and I came from Norway for a 3 week stay in Kumasi. We were having a dental internship at a private clinic where the people there were so friendly, welcoming us and treating us as family from day one. The family we stayed with was very friendly and helpful. We got good food, they made sure we felt comfortable at all times and helped us with planning and following us to the transport we were taking for weekend trips. The experience with how friendly people are here is one that I will take with me home and remember. All in all it has been three fantastic weeks full of work, culture and good experiences. I would absolutely recommend to travel with OGVO to Ghana!

Lise Mustad Ludviksen

Nationality: Norwegian

Age: 25

Country: Ghana

Program: Dental Elective Internship

Date: August 2017 – 3 weeks

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Great experience

My experience abroad was great and challenging at the same time. I was a caregiver at an orphanage, my job was feeding the kids, playing, changing, cleaning around the orphanage etc. My first week was very difficult. I was extremely homesick (i had never traveled far from home before) and culture shock but after I got over it, the fun began! I started to open up more and actually talk with people and in doing so, I made the greatest connections with people who I’ll never forget. Volunteering abroad also helped me grow up, be a stronger person, learn more… I overall feel like a better person and more confident person in making decisions. If you are thinking of doing this, DO IT. You will not regret it but do understand it will take a few days to a week to adjust.

Sydney Ewell

Nationality: American

Age: 21

Country: Ghana

Program: Care & Orphanage

Date: June 2017 – 4 weeks

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Very nice

I did enjoy the program very much. I really like the personal development and the safety and care that people showed me. Regarding the accommodation, the family was very friendly and open, but the house itself was a bit dirty. The project I was volunteering at was the school. The kids was very engaging and the teachers was very helpful. I would have wished I was told that they had exams and where vacating the two weeks i was there, so I could have prepared myself for the activities instead of education. The different sightseeing i did during my stay was very interesting and educational, which I am very happy about. I also like the fact that I could decide for myself what I wanted to see or not. You should be prepared to pay for attractions and some food plus water yourself. My total experience has been very great! I think for me, it was very important for me to have some other volunteers around me. In my case there were no one other than me to attend the high school special but one girl, who attended the healthcare project.

Helene Kaas

Nationality: Danish

Age: 16

Country: Ghana

Program: High School Volunteer Abroad

Date: April 2017 – 2 weeks

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Amazing Experience

I came to Ghana for two weeks with my wife to volunteer in a orphanage and learn about the local culture. We had an amazing experience with our placement at Liberty Family Home and school. It was located in a small town where everybody knows you. OGVO was a great program, they helped us all along the way with any questions we had both before and during the program. We appreciated all the hospitality of OGVO and Liberty Home.

Jeremy Fisher

Nationality: American

Age: 30

Country: Ghana

Program: Care & Orphanage

Date: March 2017 – 2 weeks

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Wonderful experience

OGVO was very attentive throughout the volunteer process. I volunteered with my husband, and we had many questions before the program started and they always responded very quickly and attentively. We were well taken care of with travelling to and from our volunteer location and our weekend to Mole National Park, and it was reassuring to have the support from OGVO throughout the process. We worked at a rural orphanage, and had wonderful opportunities to interact with the orphans and other people in the community. We felt very well taken care of and this let us have a really positive experience in our time in Ghana.

Jackie Fisher

Nationality: American

Age: 30

Country: Ghana

Program: Care & Orphanage

Date: March 2017 – 2 weeks

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Microfinance volunteer placement

Overall this was an amazing experience. My program placement organization completed different work than I was expecting initially coming over, but exposed me to the true microfinance industry within Ghana. The individuals that I worked with daily welcomed me with open arms and were there to teach me all they could every day. Definitely have learned a lot throughout my 3 weeks in Ghana. Frank was also a huge part in why I had such a good experience. He was consistently there to ensure I was adjusting well and was comfortable in all situations. He went above and beyond and I am thankful for him during my time here. The only slight drawback during my time here was my living situation. I was often asked for things and did not feel completely comfortable here at all times which made the adjustment initially difficult. Other than that amazing experience!

Julia Burlas

Nationality: American

Age: 25

Country: Ghana

Program: Microfinance Internships & Volunteering

Date: January 2017 – 3 weeks

 

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Good times in Ghana

I chose this program because I was immediately taken by the personalized responses I received from the program director. I had contacted multiple organizations and felt like a little fish in a big pond. Also, most of the larger organizations I contacted were outside of Ghana and I really wanted a local program. For 3 or 4 months before, I exchanged emails with the director. I had many many questions and Frank always responded within 48 hours and never made me feel like I was a hassle. He also developed the program to meet my very specific needs. I did this program on my own accord, so I was not part of a school or work program. I wanted to challenge myself in a new country and help as well. I was concerned about traveling alone, since this was my first solo trip abroad. But I can honestly say, I never once felt unsafe the entire time I was in Ghana. Although, I was rarely alone. I decided to volunteer in a rural area of Ghana, about 30 minutes outside of Kumasi. I’m glad I did, because Kumasi was a little bit more polluted so I had to have my inhaler handy a few times as I passed through. Onwe was a terrific little town and very friendly. I was placed at the Onwe Government Hospital. I arrived at a challenging time, the pharmacies were on strike, so there were less patients than usual. I rotated around the different wards and helped when I could. I specialize in dermatology, so I got to help with a lot of the dermatology cases. Overall, I didn’t get to do as much as I wanted, but like I mentioned I came at a trying time. I highly recommend doing the cultural immersion portion that is offered. Those were some of my favorite moments of my time here. I learned lots of Twi (local language spoken) and cultural traditions. It’s definitely worth the extra money. I also signed up for the weekend tour to Cape Coast which was amazing. Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Ghana. I’m glad I did the cultural immersion and weekend tour, I learned a lot about the country through those activities. I would’ve liked to have gotten more from my time at the hospital, but that wasn’t really anyone’s fault. The selling point of this program though is director Frank’s individualized attention and sincere care to make a program that meets your needs as well as the local coordinators and Twi tutor that are part of the organization. The people really made this whole experience memorable. I definitely will return to Ghana and I highly recommend this program.

Ame Phitwong

Nationality: American

Age: 32

Country: Ghana

Program: Medical & Healthcare Internships

Date:  September 2016 – 2 weeks

 

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Great experience

It was such a great experience to spend our time here, doing something little, but good. I hope that me and my sister have done every of these children a little happier. Of course not everything here was amazing, but we understand it, cuz life here is absolutely different than our life in Russia. So, we’re so excited about this program, we also will help these children in future, will try to send them different things that they need most and of course will try to come back in the future.

Hleb Belehau

Nationality: Russian

Age: 17

Country: Ghana

Program: Care & Orphanage

Date: July 2016 – 2 weeks

 

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Fantastic

It was a great experience that gave us the understanding of different problems that the kids in Ghana meet. It was a pleasure to share this experience in our family. The kids are very kind and hardworking, they like to study despite the fact that they have no all opportunities for this. They don’t have a lot things, but they always share everything with each other. Here we saw how the simple things can make kids happy.

Aliaksandra Belehava

Nationality: Russian

Age: 25

Country: Ghana

Program: Care & Orphanage

Date: July 2016 – 2 weeks

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Two wonderful weeks

I spent two wonderful weeks in Kumasi, Ghana. The food, the host family, the work – everything was excellent! You really get to see Ghana from within which is such a fantastic experience. Still, the security always felt very high.

Ellinor Segersten

Nationality: Swedish

Age: 16

Country: Ghana

Program: High School Specials

Date: June 2016 – 2 weeks

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Truly amazing

Traveling to a place like Ghana is such a unique amazing adventure to have so young in your life. Volunteering although tough is so rewarding, you get to experience the culture full on always. It was truly incredible I completely suggest to travel and volunteer in Ghana to anyone.

Erin Pulkownik

Nationality: American

Age: 15

Country: Ghana

Program: High School Specials

Date: June 2016 – 2 weeks

 

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King Jesus Christ Orphanage Assignment

As a 20-year old pursuing this program alone and with no contacts in Ghana to begin with, I was astounded by the care and support I received by Frank, one of the program directors, and my host family. I was immediately welcomed into a loving household that was always checking on me to make sure that everything was okay. Frank was marvelous. A very sweet-hearted gentleman, he always made sure I was safe and that I was having a good time. As for my volunteer service, I now wish I had chosen another avenue. This is not because my experience was negative, as the children never ceased to make me smile, but for the sole reason that I believe the significance of my impact to be minuscule and I feel as though I could have gotten more out of the program( due to language barrier issues with the children) if I had pursued another line of service (although I was only with the program for two-weeks) Recommendations for future volunteers in this program: – Study at least some teaching-related twi words, they will come in handy (sit, listen, stop etc.). – Be prepared to see children all-out fighting each other ( this is a common occurrence as the children enforce their own punishments often) – Especially if you are white, be prepared to have children no matter where you go, asking you for money or shouting ” Obruni!”( meaning white person) – Do not come with pre-conceived notions of how things will work. -If possible, go on the Cape Coast excursion. You really learn a lot about African history from a perspective you might not readily be approached with if you were to study it abroad.

Victoria Sunseri

Nationality: American

Age: 22

Country: Ghana

Program: Care & Orphanage

Date: June 2016 – 2 weeks

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Coaching football in Kumasi

Hello everyone, I’m Robin, an international volunteer from the Netherlands. I volunteered for 2 weeks in Kumasi, Ghana doing teaching and coaching football to children. I really enjoyed my time in Ghana doing voluntary work! My host family were very nice, caring and helpful people, I never hesitated to talk to them about anything. Their kindness I sincerely appreciated. The work I did, I really loved and I looked forward to going to work everyday because I knew that every day would be a good day. The children really appreciated me being there and respected me very well. I am very passionate about football and also working with children, so this program was a perfect fit for me. I experienced the great Ghanaian culture through visiting museums and places during weekends, eating from the lovely Ghanaian cuisine but mostly through the very friendly people! I have also made good friendships whilst being here with the school staff, the school children, my host family and also my resourceful OGVO guide. To sum everything up, I would just like to say that it was an amazing, unforgettable experience for me and that I highly recommend volunteering through Our Generation Voluntary Organisation to all people looking to volunteer in the great country of Ghana.

Robin Fleskens

Nationality: Dutch

Age: 16

Program: Teaching & Sports Coaching (Football)

Date: February 2016 – 2 weeks

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Medical Volunteering in Kumasi

Overall very pleasant experience working with OGVO. Frank, our program coordinator, was very helpful and made sure that we had a rewarding experience while we were in Ghana. I spent four weeks volunteering at Aniniwah Medical Center where I was exposed to many areas of health care from consultations to surgeries. All the medical professionals we encountered were knowledgeable and willing to teach. I found the whole experience invaluable as it helped me gain a better insight into how medicine works in developing countries such as Ghana.

Stephanie Grunberg

Nationality: American

Age: 26

Program: Medical & Healthcare (Elective)

Date: November 2015 – 4 weeks

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Great place for students

“Great place for students! I learned a lot and was very impressed with all the doctors. Dr. Addison, Dr. Mawuse, and Dr. York were particularly excellent, and please thank them for letting us follow them around!

Being with a host family is a wonderful experience. Thank you to everyone for helping us.
FRANK & OGVO – FRANK IS AMAZING!! Frank took very good care of us, and made sure we were safe and happy. Frank made the experience of being in Ghana very good!

Frank is fantastic, and I really appreciate everything he did”.

Mindy Eklove

Nationality: Canadian

Age: 34

Program: Medical & Healthcare (Elective)

Date: November 2015 – 4 weeks

 

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Amazing

“Frank was very helpful throughout our whole trip in guiding us through Kumasi at first, and accompanying us on our weekend tours to Cape Coast and Mole National Park. Thank you for showing us around!
Always easy to reach / contact. We were well prepared from all Frank’s emails before we arrived, they were very thorough.
Frank was very generous with his time and energy; he worked very hard to make sure we were comfortable.
We were very grateful for Frank’s help and support at EMINA HOSPITAL when our friend became ill. This would be a good place to bring any volunteers who get sick in the future. Overall, OGVO is a wonderful organization”.

Alessandra Stepanko

Nationality: Canadian

Age: 27

Program: Medical & Healthcare (Elective)

Date: November 2015 – 4 weeks

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My three weeks of work in Boabeng Fiema monkey sanctuary

I wanted to try to travel somewhere alone and do something different while exploring a new country I didn’t know much about so I decided to look into volunteer works. It was just by chance I stumbled across OGVO on worldwidehelpers.com and I decided to give it a shot.

The fast and friendly e-mail replies from the head of the organization made me decide that I wanted to try it out and so I started all the preparations for the new adventure I was throwing myself into.

I went to Ghana in the middle of January 2014 and stayed for 5 weeks. I had 3 weeks in the village of Akrudwa #2 close to the Boabeng Fiema monkey sanctuary where I worked during the afternoons and weekends, I also spent some time in school, teaching third graders and hanging out with teachers.

Right from the moment I stepped outside the airport and a guy from the organization picked me up I was thrown into the Ghanaian way of life which was my hope for the trip. I made some European friends, fellow volunteers (there’s a lot in the southern Ghana especially) but mostly I spent time with locals, in the village where I stayed, traveled to Mole national park and Kintampo falls with a few local, really nice guys I got to know in the village.

Larger organizations might connect you to more volunteers but I like that OGVO really gives you the opportunity to explore and be a part of Ghanaian culture, which is really, really different but very, very interesting and nice.

I would surely recommend OGVO to people who wants to explore a whole new country in Africa, Ghana is rather safe and the people is mostly really nice. The work is quite relaxed but I liked doing tours and do some guiding! I would recommend you to stay a bit longer than 5 weeks in Ghana though, the schoolwork could become really interesting if you stayed a bit longer so you get more into it than I did.

Ultimately Ghana is well worth visiting and OGVO is a very friendly organization that will help you during your stay!

John Hannes Olof Olsson

Nationality: Swedish

Age: 24

Program: Wildlife

Date: January 2014 – 5 weeks

 

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An experience that you will not forget

Without a doubt, this will be an experience that you will not forget. I volunteered at Adehyee school in a small town 30 minutes from Kumasi. The town did not have much, but it was great getting a real life experience of people that live in Ghana. If you want a real experience, I would suggest going to a smaller town instead of the city.
The town was amazing, the people are so loving there. Everybody loves seeing visitors in their small towns, everybody will know who you are very quickly. Everybody will want to talk and meet you, so be ready to meet people. “Brownie” means white person there, everybody/kids know this word so get use to it.
At the school, I was an English teacher and a swimming instructor. Teaching swimming was the highlight of my experience. The kids had never been in water before, and seeing their smiles and excitement is the best feeling ever. Instructing swimming was teaching them lessons that could save a life sometime.
Try and meet new friends that you can trust, but be very careful. Keep your room locked and do not trust people with your stuff. Many people in Ghana are poor and you never really know who you can trust for the longest time. You will have to meet friends though, it will make the experience so much better.
Just some information for future volunteers, be ready to not have all the luxuries that you have been granted in life. Running water and electricity are not always available, but this allows you to enjoy the culture and nature around you. I would REALLY recommend OGVO programs!

Joshua Busick

Nationality: American

Age: 22

Program: Teaching

Date: February 2013 – 10 weeks

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Want to challenge yourself and see what real medicine is all about? OGVO makes it happen.

My experience in Kumasi was instrumental in my successful application to medical school in Australia. Based in a small, hands-on clinic in Kumasi, I was actively learning from day one. It was hot, humid and the small waiting room was full of prenatal women, patiently waiting their turn with the doctor. Staff were busily attending to patients with barely time to raise their eyes to notice the awkward Obruni half-cocked and hesitating in the doorway. “Alex!” Frank gestured in his direction, “come and meet the team”. I needn’t have worried: within five minutes, I realised that I had just made 10 new friends. And I realised that I didn’t have time to be nervous! Primarily a maternity clinic – and given the high fertility rate in Kumasi – you are going to be busy. You are given as much or as little responsibility as your experience will allow. However, it must be said: you will be permitted to be involved in procedures that would otherwise be impossible back home. This is an unparalleled opportunity to observe, learn and even practice the messy, chaotic and REAL side of primary care medicine in a developing country. That kind of hands-on experience was indispensable and is a driving factor of my recommendation for OGVO. I began simply shadowing a GP while he went about doing consultations. During this time I learned about all the prevalent maladies affecting Kumasi’s many residents: malaria, typhoid and more malaria. After some time just observing, the GP got me consulting with patients, before I went into the lab to learn how to identify different pathogens under the microscope and make a proper diagnosis. You get to check for malaria, sickle cell anemia – the list goes on. I also weighed and immunised infants, helped deliver two babies, and gave talks to antenatal women on how to stay healthy during pregnancy. This educational role saw me head out into (very) regional villages to give out medication and give more talks on primary healthcare. It was challenging and daunting at first, but entirely awesome and a hugely important experience for me. Undertaking a medical internship through OGVO is a life-changing experience and something that I would recommend without hesitation. Frank and the organisation will ensure that you are happy and well looked-after, from the moment he meets you at the airport to the time you say a difficult goodbye. At times you will need to draw on your inner-strength and the new friends around you, but I promise that you will leave a different, more-resilient person with a better-developed global outlook. Not to mention an impressive set of skills to aid you as you begin or continue your medical training.

Alexander James Godfrey

Nationality: Australian

Age: 25

Country: Ghana

Program: Medical & Healthcare Internships

Date: January 2013 – 8 weeks